For today, links to seven reports: from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, the Cradle, and Middle East Eye; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for IRAN 1-12-26, and up or down for YEMEN, GAZA, VENEZUELA and PHOTO.) — MCM

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Death toll from nationwide protests in Iran spikes to at least 2,000, activists say, by Jon Gambrell | AP  DUBAI — The death toll from nationwide protests in Iran spiked today to at least 2,000 people killed, activists said, even as Iranians made phone calls abroad for the first time in days after authorities severed communications during a crackdown. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. Click HERE for a second Jan. 13 report from AP.

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At least 734 people killed In Iran protest crackdown: rights group. From AFP. At least 734 people are confirmed to have been killed in an Iranian security force crackdown on protests, though the actual death toll is likely in the thousands, a rights group said today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for similar AFP report in French, and HERE for headlines of others.

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FROM JAN. 12  Millions take to the streets of Iran in mass counterprotests against riots, foreign interference. From the Cradle. Millions of Iranian citizens have taken to the streets across Iran to reject the violent riots taking place across the country and take a stance against foreign interference, following continuous threats of war from the U.S. and Israel. READ MORE . . .

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Iranian protesters reject U.S. and Israeli interference, by correspondent in Iran and Alex MacDonald | Middle East Eye  TEHRAN / LONDON  Since June 2025, when Israel launched air strikes that killed around 1,000 people in the country, speculations over a military operation to oust the Iranian government have been growing — bolstered by the U.S. kidnapping of Iran ally Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. READ MORE . . .

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Trump announces 25 percent tariff on countries doing business with Iran. From Middle East Eye. U.S. President Donald Trump said he was imposing a tariff rate of 25 percent on any country that does business with Iran, as an anonymous Iranian official reportedly said 2,000 protesters have been killed in the crackdown. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 12  European Parliament bans Iranian diplomats from all premises. From the Cradle. The European Parliament has formally banned all Iranian diplomatic staff, government officials, and representatives from entering all of its buildings, Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced on Monday. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to two reports from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (Scroll down for VENEZUELA 1-12-26, and up or down for YEMEN, GAZA, IRAN and PHOTO.) — MCM

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FROM JAN. 13  Maduro’s gone, but Venezuela’s human rights crisis remains. Reported by Eyder Peralta | NPR  The fallout from the U.S. attack on Venezuela and the focus on oil interests have largely eclipsed urgent concerns about the country’s entrenched human rights abuses and democratic erosion. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM JAN. 9  A look at how the cocaine trade works. Reported by Darian Woods and Stephan Bisaha | NPR  The business of cocaine trafficking has changed over the years, with different players and routes. Click HERE to listen and read.

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A link to a photo from Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on links to reports illustrated by AFP photos. (Scroll down for PHOTO 1-9-26, and scroll up for GAZA, IRAN and VENEZUELA.) — MCM

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FROM JAN. 9  Colorful hat, by Haitham al-Shukairi | AFP  The hat is worn by the sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, seen attending a military parade in Muscat, Oman’s capital city — part of the sultanate’s official celebrations for the nation’s national day last Nov. 20. Click HERE for photo and accompanying Jan. 9 report from Middle East Eye.

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For now, links to two reports from Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 1-11-26 and SYRIA, WEST BANK, IRAN, GAZA and VENEZUELA so far.) — MCM

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Russian drones hit two foreign vessels near Ukrainian port. From Reuters. KYIV — Russian drones struck two foreign-flagged vessels today, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said, the second such attack in four days on Black Sea shipping. He said they were sailing under the flags of Panama and ⁠San Marino, ‌and that one person had been injured. READ MORE . . .

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Civilian casualties in Ukraine up sharply in 2025, UN monitor says. From Reuters. ZURICH — Last year was the deadliest for civilians in Ukraine since 2022, driven by intensified hostilities along the front line and the expanded use of long-range weapons, the UN ​Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said today. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

First, a link to a report from the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (Scroll down for SYRIA 1-10-26, and up or down for today’s UKRAINE, WEST BANK, IRAN, GAZA and VENEZUELA so far.) — MCM

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FROM JAN. 11  U.S. launches new retaliatory strikes against IS in Syria after deadly ambush. From AP. WASHINGTON — The U.S. has launched another round of retaliatory strikes against the Islamic State group in Syria following last month’s ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter in the country. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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TO BE CONTINUED

First, a link to a report from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (Scroll down for WEST BANK 1-11-25, and up or down for today’s UKRAINE, SYRIA, IRAN, GAZA and VENEZUELA so far.) — MCM

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Israeli settler violence in West Bank rose 25 percent, military finds. From Middle East Eye. Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank rose by 25 percent in 2025, according to data released by the Israeli military. The figures were reported by Haaretz today. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to five reports: from Reuters, National Public Radio, the Cradle, and the Associated Press; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for IRAN 1-11-26, and up or down for today’s UKRAINE, SYRIA, WEST BANK, GAZA and VENEZUELA so far.) — MCM

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Trump weighs response to Iran crackdown, Tehran says communication open with U.S., by Jana Choukeir, Nayera Abdallah and Tala Ramadan | Reuters  DUBAI — Iran said today it is keeping communications open with the U.S. as President Donald Trump weighed responses to a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests, which pose one of the stiffest challenges to clerical rule since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. READ MORE . . .

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Iran warns U.S. and Israel against military actions after deadly protests crackdown. Reported by Jackie Northam and A Martínez | NPR  Iran warned the U.S. and Israel against military action as activists said at least 203 people have been killed in the nationwide protests, a toll they say is likely far higher. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Israel, Garmany formalize security partnership targeting Iran. From the Cradle. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt signed a security agreement in Jerusalem on Sunday, describing Iran and its allies as a “threat” to Israel, regional stability, and international security, warning that Israel’s enemies are monitored “at all times and everywhere.” READ MORE . . .

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Trump threatens Iran as country cracks down on protesters. Leila Fadel of NPR speaks with Holly Dagres of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy about the protests. President Trump has threatened Iran amid a deadly crackdown on protesters. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Trump says Iran wants to negotiate as the death toll in protests rises to at least 544, by Jon Gambrell and Julia Nikhinson | AP  DUBAI — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a move coming as activists said today the death toll in the nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 544. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. 

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TO BE CONTINUED

First, links to two reports: from the Associated Press and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (Scroll down for GAZA 1-11-26, and up or down for today’s UKRAINE, SYRIA, WEST BANK, IRAN and VENEZUELA so far.) — MCM

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FROM JAN. 11  Hamas says it will dissolve its government in Gaza when new Palestinian body takes over, by Samy Magdy and Julia Frankel | AP  CAIRO — This would happen once a Palestinian technocratic leadership committee takes over the territory, as mandated under the U.S.-brokered peace plan. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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FROM JAN. 11  Trump promised a Gaza endgame. Palestinians say they are still living the war. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR  Three months after Trump’s Gaza plan, Palestinians say the war is still not over and no international force has arrived. Click HERE to listen and read.

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TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to three reports: from National Public Radio and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking their initials below. (Scroll down for VENEZUELA 1-11-26, and scroll up for today’s UKRAINE, SYRIA, WEST BANK, IRAN and GAZA.) — MCM

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Venezuela releases political prisoners days after U.S. removes Nicolas Maduro. Reported by John Otis | NPR  Venezuela has begun releasing political prisoners in what the government calls a goodwill gesture, days after the U.S. seized President Nicolás Maduro. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM JAN. 11  Latin American left responds to Trump’s pledge to take over of Venezuelan oil. Reported by Carrie Kahn | NPR  Latin America’s left is in disarray after the seizure of Nicolas Maduro and the U.S.’s pledge to take over Venezuela’s oil industry. Many on the left are changing their rhetoric about President Trump. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM JAN. 11  Trump ‘inclined’ to keep Exxon-Mobil out of Venezuela after White House meeting, by Seung Min Kim and Julia Nikhinson ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE  — President Donald Trump said Sunday he is “inclined” to keep ExxonMobil out of Venezuela after its top executive was skeptical about oil investment efforts in the country after the toppling of former President Nicolás Maduro. “They’re playing too cute.” he said. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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TO BE CONTINUED

For today, links to seven reports: from the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, and the Cradle; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (Scroll down for IRAN 1-4-26, and up or down for MEDIA, WEST BANK, GAZA, VENEZUELA and UKRAINE.) — MCM

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NEWER  Death toll in crackdown on protests in Iran spikes to at least 538, activists say, by Jon Gambrell | AP  DUBAI — A crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran has killed at least 538 people and even more are feared dead, activists said today, while Tehran warned that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. Click HERE and HERE for a second AP report, and another from Middle East Eye.

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‘Rioters’ must not disrupt Iranian society: President Pezeshkian on state TV. From AFP. In his first remarks after three nights of protest against the authorities, President Masoud Pezeshkian told state broadcaster IRIB that “people should believe that we [the government] want to establish justice.” READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same brief AFP report in French, and HERE for headlines of others.

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Son of Iran’s toppled Shah seeks a role as protests expand. From Reuters. TEHRAN — Reza Pahlavi, 65, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran has become a prominent voice spurring on protesters staging the biggest anti-government demonstrations in years. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 10  Iranian police arrest 100, dismantle ‘terror cells’ amid riot crackdown. From the Cradle. Iranian police announced on 10 January the arrest of 100 people accused of “rioting and disrupting security” and the dismantling of two armed cells in western Iran, according to semi-official news agency Tasnim. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 9  Khamenei slams ‘arrogant’ Trump, vows Iran ‘will not back down’ as violent riots spread. From the Cradle. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed in a speech on Friday that Tehran “will not back down” in the face of U.S. pressure and threats, while strongly condemning foreign-backed rioters causing unrest in the country. READ MORE . . .

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